Check-out Human Books, 12 to 4pm July 8, 9, 15 & 16

Note not all books are available on all dates

Survivor of Sexual and Domestic Abuse

July 8 & 9 and 15 & 16
Rahno Boutilier is Executive Director of Alternatives for Women in
Prince Edward County. She has worked in the Violence Against
Women sector for over 20 years and has been recognized with a
number of awards for her work.
Rahno is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence.
She hopes to one day write a book about her experience in an effort to
help others on their journey to health and wholeness. Rahno currently
lives in Milford with her partner Kerry and the family pets.

Growing up Bisexual in the County

July 8 & 9 and 15 & 16
Born in Picton, Curtis Jeffery was raised on a multigenerational family
farm. His life was that of the average kid growing up in rural Ontario
until the end of grade eight. High school started and with it came a new
sense of personal awareness. No longer identifying as heterosexual,
Curtis found himself the subject of intolerance, ridicule, and verbal and
physical assault inside and outside of school at Prince Edward Collegiate
Institute. This prompted his leaving both school and the County. After
living away for a few years, Curtis has returned home. Hes learned, and
continues to learn, how to feel at home in himself and in his community.

Postpartum Psychosis and Bi-Polar

July 8 and 15 & 16
At the age of 30, following a healthy pregnancy and the birth of her son,
Lynn Sullivan went into a severe state of postpartum psychosis. Her
behaviour was significantly altered and resulted in the inability to focus
on the proper care of her baby. After one week of alarming behaviour,
Lynn was admitted to the psychiatric ward of the local hospital and
diagnosed as bi-polar. Having now lived with the illness for the past
25 years, navigating her way through psychiatric care and pharmaceutical developments, Lynn has gained a deep appreciation for mental
health and wellness.

Parent of Severely Autistic Child

July 8, 9 & 15
Aynsley Emlaw grew up in Prince Edward County. She is an
elementary school teacher and the mother of two children.
In 2005, Aynsleys bright, funny, chatty 2-year-old son stopped his
chatter and withdrew into solitary activities. Later that year, he was
diagnosed with severe autism spectrum disorder. Talk to Aynsley
about the challenges and the humour of raising a child with autism.

Struggling Survivor of Single Motherhood

July 8 and 15
Erin Johnston is the single mother of 4 children, two of them with
mental health challenges. When despite all your best efforts, income
remains insufficient to meet basic needs, your oldest child is struggling
to find himself, youre supporting your oldest daughter in healing and
creating art, and your youngest children still need hugs and a bedtime
story, but no hydro means no running water or electricity, how do you
cope? But actually do more than cope find hope in things to still laugh
and smile about, stay engaged in community and remain strong.

Anarchist & Prison Abolitionist

July 15 & 16
Eric (July 15) and Rachel (July 16) are members of 613anarchy, an
anarchist collective based in Kingston - occupied Haudenosaunee and
Anishnaabe territory - that produces zines, posters and other
materials about fighting capitalism, the state, and prisons among other
things. They are also with End The Prison-Industrial Complex, a
collective that struggles for a world without prisons. Check them out to
chat about why they think we would all be better off without any prisons
(or any government) at all.

Sarcoma Cancer Survivor & Advocate

July 15 & 16
A lifetime resident of Ameliasburgh, Teresa Bell feels she has led a
simple life; growing up on a farm, married with 3 children and
owning a local business. However, her journey with Sarcoma (a rare
form of cancer) since the age of 35, has been anything but simple. It has
been a complex series of hospitals, seeking treatment from here to
Mexico. Today, at age 47, Teresa is still coping with an incurable and
progressive disease. And yet, she shares her story as one filled with joy,
hope, lessons learned and enough experiences to fill a lifetime.

Ex-Prisoner
July 16
Ann Hansen is serving a life sentence for politically motivated actions
carried out in the early 80s. She spent 7 years in the Prison for Women
from 1983 to 1990. Additionally, she spent 3 months on two occasions
at Grand Valley Institution for Women for parole suspensions which the
Parole Board did not deem serious enough to revoke parole.
Ex-prisoners do not like to be defined by their crime since it usually
took place over a very short span of their life, says Ann, so Ill add that
I am presently a subsistence farmer with horses, chickens, growing
berries, vegetables, apples and making our own maple syrup.

Syrian Refugees and Brothers

July 8 & 9 and 15
Slieman Al Jassem (far left) is 19 years old. His
brother, Ramez is 17. Both came to Canada as
Syrian refugees and settled in Prince Edward
County in November of 2015. They arrived with
their family, including their parents, grandmother, and younger brothers and sisters. After
fleeing the war in Syria, the family lived in
Lebanon for 4 years prior to their coming to
Canada.

Stacey, Joseph and Brenda are not able to be with us on June 15 and 16, but we would like to
extend our heartfelt thanks for their attendance and invaluable contribution as
human books last Friday and Saturday.

2-Spirited Mtis Trans Woman

July 8 & 9
Stacey Love-Jolicoeur works with the Gender Journeys Program at
Canadian Mental Health Association HKPR in Peterborough and
CMHA HPE in Belleville as an educator and support worker for the
LGBT community. Additionally, she volunteers as the coordinator with
the TRANSforum group in Belleville, Ontario. An active member of the
Rainbow Youth Organizing Committee and the organizing committee
for Belleville Pride, Stacey has a strong passion for the betterment of the
LGBTQ2S community.

Gay and Living with HIV AIDS

July 8 & 9
Joseph Babcock has been living with HIV for 20 years. He is an artist,
an activist, a long term survivor and a community facilitator of stories.
Most of his work involves gathering people together to sit and share.
The more we listen to each other, the more we grow as people and
barriers are broken, says Joseph. I share my story regularly with
students in Kingston and have been a first patient volunteer, being
followed by a first year student doctor for a year.

Cancer Survivor and Cancer Ward Nurse

July 8
Brenda Picard is a 14-year survivor of breast cancer and, as she says, a
survivor of life so far.
Brenda was a nurse for 20 years working in a variety of hospital and
community settings including oncology, which was in its beginning
stages. She also worked in the Cancer unit.
Little did she know she would need these services herself one day.
She enjoys life to its fullest and is always ready to try new things. Her
latest was a recent move to the County and taking up kayaking.